Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
2 November 2009
Lagos — As the 2009 hajj operation continues, President Umaru Musa Yar'adua has commended the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola over the successful coordination of Lagos State pilgrims through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos,
The Presidential Special Adviser on Aviation matters, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal, while addressing Lagos State Pilgrims obehalf of President Yar'adua, challenged other states to follow the model of the state for the seamless way it controlled its over 600 pilgrims airlifted by Medview Airlines through the Lagos Airport.
According to him, the Fashola administration exhibited uniqueness for the exercise by providing two Marcopolo buses to convey the pilgrims from the Hajj Camp of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos into the tarmac for seamless boarding, even as the state government assisted in the renovation of the camp, to accelerate the success of this year's pilgrims airlift.
Iyal, who is also the chairman of the hajj monitoring committee, said that the role played by Fashola demonstrated government's commitment to the successful hajj operations, saying
"If all the states in the zone can do this, it will make the exercise more successful. The president appreciates this gesture, and would wish that other states emulate the Lagos model".
He charged the pilgrims to remember that they are ambassadors of the country whose behaviour and attitude will reflect the image of the country. He stated "The president has asked me to tell you that as ambassadors of the country your behaviour and attitude during this exercise in the holy land will reflect the image of Nigeria .
That is why you must all internalise the knowledge you have been given on the luggage policy to ensure that that all prescribed rules are complied with".
Iyal also lauded the roles played by some aviation agencies in ensuring that this year's pilgrims airlift has attained the success not been recorded in the past years .
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all nigerians progressive mind realy commend the effort of lagos state governor,babatunde fashola not only on hajj,but for all what he has been doing to move lagos forward.Truely,fashola you reccon with calipper of people that can take this country of ours to promise land.more grease to your elbow.[eko onibajeo].